Public art gets a new fillip

St+art Hyderabad 2017 is back in bringing in colour and essence into our everyday spaces

HYDERABAD: St+art India Foundation, known for bring art into the public is back in Hyderabad with the creation of a public art district in MS Maqtha as part of St+art Hyderabad 2017. With support from Asian Paints, Krishnakriti Foundation, Art at Telangana, Govt of Telangana, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Bonjour India, St+art India Foundation will build on its third public art district after the Lodhi Art District in New Delhi and Mahim (E) Art District in Mumbai.

Until December 17, Hyderabad will witness the coming together of Indian and international artists regenerating the Maqtha neighbourhood and transforming it into a vibrant art district. In addition to the seven artists who make up the official artist line up, eight Telangana artists have been invited to take part to express themselves for the first time on the walls.

The eight emerging artists are young and extremely talented – most of them are from India – and the project will provide an exciting platform for them to showcase their work to a wider audience. Amit Syngle, COO, Asian Paints Ltd. said, “We are looking at creating unique art hubs in this beautiful city of Hyderabad and offer newer experiences to diverse sections of the society, especially those who are usually excluded from the reach of art.”

Giulia Ambrogi, Co-Founder & Festival Curator, St+art India Foundation said, “A festival of this scale also highlights the importance of building networks with the local government and social organisations/ foundations focused on nurturing and fostering art and culture which, especially in the case of Hyderabad, have been stimulating to work with.”The larger aim of the project in Hyderabad is to regenerate the past of the neighbourhood whose history has paved way for urbanization and celebrate its culture and stories through a public art project which will flourish the neighbourhood and have an impact on everyone’s lives. Arjun Bahl, Co-Founder and Festival Director, St+art India Foundation said, “We aim to use street art as a riot of colour in the Maqtha neighbourhood by creating exciting art works, which will energize the aesthetic of the city as a whole. It is truly refreshing to see Asian Paints leading the way in this creative endeavour as our primary supporter and all our partners for believing in our vision of making art accessible, democratic and for everyone.”